This is definitely as corrupt and not as nuanced as you might think. I recommend the book Cadillac Desert whenever this discussion comes up. The history of wat

This is definitely as corrupt and not as nuanced as you might think. I recommend the book Cadillac Desert whenever this discussion comes up. The history of water management and delivery in the American west has been one of corporate greed, regulatory capture, and massive environmental damage in the interest of profits. The author details all of this dating back to the Dam boom and the Army Corps of Engineers being in cahoots with agro-giants early in the 20th century and damming rivers all over the west with the primary (but not admitted) purpose being cheaper water for corporate farmers.